The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has donated $265,854 to support the evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa amid ongoing xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks.
Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the federal government publicly expressed appreciation to the church for its donation. The contribution, which is approximately ₦351 million, will cover 500 one-way tickets for Nigerians who want to return home.
Donations by RCCG
This latest development follows other recent high-profile interventions by the church. On September 2, the general overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, donated three complete sets of dialysis machines to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. 
There was also an unveiling of robotic surgery services at Redeemer’s Health Village on August 22, to help curb medical tourism and train Nigerian surgeons.
In a statement signed by the ministry spokesperson Oluwafemi Adeniyi, the government described the donation made under the leadership of the general overseer as “a significant demonstration of RCCG’s compassion, solidarity and genuine commitment to providing succour to distressed and stranded Nigerians.”
Details of the Evacuation So Far
The Nigerian government started evacuating stranded Nigerians from South Africa on June 10, 2026. Since then, 1,640 Nigerians have been brought back home. The government sponsored 1,385 of them, while the other 255 were evacuated through philanthropic donations. Currently, there are 202 Nigerians awaiting final screening by the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa before evacuation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the donation was especially meaningful for citizens “faced with the scourges of Xenophobia and Afrophobia in South Africa.” It did not hesitate to highlight the importance of collaboration between faith-based organisations and public institutions in tackling social challenges.
It further made known that the government is open to more partnerships with private organisations, philanthropists, faith-based groups, and development partners that can positively impact Nigerians abroad.
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